Manchester United have been in talks with several former players to take on the role of interim head coach, as the club seeks a manager to lead the team until the end of the season following Ruben Amorim’s departure.
Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have been informally approached about the possibility of managing the team, along with the current caretaker Darren Fletcher.
It’s expected that other candidates will also be contacted before any decision is taken.
Ruben Amorim was dismissed on Monday after 14 disappointing months, which came to a bitter end following Friday’s heated meeting with director of football Jason Wilcox.
Under-18s boss and former midfielder Fletcher has been temporarily promoted to interim head coach for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Burnley.
Fletcher is expected to stay in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round match against Brighton while United weigh their options.
“It’s surreal,” said Fletcher, who made 342 appearances for the Red Devils and has worked in a variety of different roles for them since 2020.
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“I don’t even think it’s in my wildest dreams that that was something that could potentially happen.”
Fletcher said leading the team was “an amazing honour”, even though “not in the circumstances I expected it to happen”.
“But I’ve got a job to do, and I’ve got to lead the team tomorrow, and think of the great honour and pride in doing that.”
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On Tuesday, the club also spoke to former boss and treble hero Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who was named as Jose Mourinho’s temporary replacement in December 2018 and got the full-time post in March 2019.
Solskjaer led Man Utd to second place in the Premier League in 2020-21 and a Europa League final defeat to Villarreal before being sacked in November 2021.
Since leaving Old Trafford, he has only managed Turkish club Besiktas.
Carrick, who had been part of Solskjaer’s coaching team, briefly served as caretaker manager before departing the club.
The former United midfielder later managed Championship side Middlesbrough from October 2022 until last June.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who managed United between Erik ten Hag’s departure and Amorim’s arrival in November 2024, is also reportedly being considered.
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Another club legend, he was dismissed by Leicester towards the end of last season.
Sky Sports is reporting that the club haven’t ruled out the possibility of making a substantive appointment, if they decide the right coach is available.
It’s thought club’s bosses would like to have someone in place before the Manchester derby on 17 January.
